Chairwoman opened the hearing on HB2413.

Natalie Scott, Revisor's Office, provided an overview of the bill and stood for questions and discussion. (Attachment 1)

Kevin Schwertfeger, Kansas State Representative, 114th House District, provided testimony in support of the bill.  He stated that Kansas Ag producers need protection from those who would seek to steal and destroy their livelihoods. He would like so see Ag theft penalties to increase.  (Attachment 2)

Lisa Moser, Kansas State Representative, District 106, spoke in favor of the bill.  She stated given current values of cattle and horses, increasing the penalties for heir theft and associated equipment would, hopefully, be an effective deterrent. (Attachment 3)

Megan Steele, Kansas State Representative. District 51, provided support of the bill.  She said by classifying the theft of livestock and critical farm equipment as a felony, this bill would appropriately recognize  the serious and significant harm these crimes cause in rural communities. (Attachment 4)

Matthew Steele, CEO, Kansas Cattlemen's Association (KCA), spoke in favor of the bill.  Almost every week the KCA receive reports and notices of thefts from all across the state.  Additionally, what is not seen financially is the lose of genetics.  The lose of breeding stock that in many cases has taken multiple generations to create and secure. They ask to have the bill passed favorably.  (Attachment 5)

Jackie Garagiola, Director of Legal & Government Affairs, Kansas Livestock Association (KLA), supports this bill.  She stated while theft of property is a lesser priority for many local prosecutors, the Committee should contemplate the ramification of allowing livestock theft to go unenforced.  KLA believes cattle theft warrants a higher level of severity under the current theft statute. (Attachment 6)

Sam Johnson, Johnson and Sons Farm, provided testimony in support of the bill.  He discussed the significant impact on the loss of one animal has on our economic condition.  As well as impact on the loss of equipment.  He asks for the passage of the bill to further protect producers like him.  (Attachment 7)

Proponents stood for question and further discussion.

Proponents, Written Only:

• Taylor Williamson, Director of Economics and Policy, Kansas Corn Growers Assoc. (Attachment 8)

• John Donley, Kansas Farm Bureau (Attachment 9)

No further conferees.

Chairwoman Warren closed the hearing on HB2413.